Efficient session management

Abstract

A network function is configured to initiate a bulk session cleanup with a single release request. The network function detects a configuration change to a wireless network system that affects multiple user sessions for multiple user devices. The network function generates a single bulk session release request identifying the affected user sessions and provides the single bulk session release request to at least one other network function responsible for the user sessions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A method comprising:
 detecting at a User Plane Function (UPF) device in a wireless network system, a configuration change to the wireless network system, the configuration change affecting a plurality of user sessions for a plurality of User Equipment (UE); 
 generating a single bulk session release request identifying the plurality of user sessions; and 
 providing the single bulk session release request from the UPF device to a Session Management Function (SMF) device responsible for the plurality of user sessions. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising obtaining a single bulk session release response from the SMF device, the single bulk session release response identifying the plurality of user sessions. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing an association between the plurality of user sessions and a group identifier. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , further comprising acting to release the plurality of user sessions, wherein the single bulk session release request identifies the plurality of user sessions by the group identifier. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the group identifier is associated with a Data Network Name (DNN), a next Generation Node B (gNB), a logical group of UEs, or a type of UE. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the configuration change is related to a next Generation Node B (gNB) failure, a policy change, a Session Management Function (SMF) configuration change, or a User Plane Function (UPF) configuration change. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the configuration change to the wireless network system comprises obtaining a notification of the configuration change from a network management entity. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus comprising:
 a network interface configured to communicate with a plurality of computing devices in a wireless network system; and 
 a processor coupled to the network interface, the processor configured to:
 detect a configuration change to the wireless network system, the configuration change affecting a plurality of user sessions for a plurality of User Equipment (UE); 
 generate a single bulk session release request identifying the plurality of user sessions; and 
 cause the network interface to provide the single bulk session release request to a Session Management Function (SMF) device responsible for the plurality of user sessions. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is further configured to obtain a single bulk session release response from the SMF device via the network interface, the single bulk session release response identifying the plurality of user sessions. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 8 , further comprising a memory configured to store an association between the plurality of user sessions and a group identifier. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the processor is further configured to act to release the plurality of user sessions, and wherein the single bulk session release request identifies the plurality of user sessions by the group identifier. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the group identifier is associated with a Data Network Name (DNN), a next Generation Node B (gNB), a logical group of UEs, or a type of UE. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to detect the configuration change is related to a next Generation Node B (gNB) failure, a policy change, a Session Management Function (SMF) configuration change, or a User Plane Function (UPF) configuration change. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the processor is configured to detect the configuration change to the wireless network system by obtaining a notification of the configuration change from a network management entity via the network interface. 
     
     
       15. One or more non-transitory computer readable storage media encoded with software comprising computer executable instructions and, when the software is executed on a processor a User Plane Function (UPF) device of a wireless network system, operable to cause a processor to:
 detect a configuration change to the wireless network system, the configuration change affecting a plurality of user sessions for a plurality of User Equipment (UE); 
 generate a single bulk session release request identifying the plurality of user sessions; and 
 provide the single bulk session release request to a Session Management Function (SMF) device responsible for the plurality of user sessions. 
 
     
     
       16. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the software is further operable to cause the processor to obtain a single bulk session release response from the SMF device, the single bulk session release response identifying the plurality of user sessions. 
     
     
       17. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the software is further operable to cause the processor to store an association between the plurality of user sessions and a group identifier. 
     
     
       18. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the software is further operable to cause the processor to act to release the plurality of user sessions, wherein the single bulk session release request identifies the plurality of user sessions by the group identifier. 
     
     
       19. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 17 , wherein the group identifier is associated with a Data Network Name (DNN), a next Generation Node B (gNB), a logical group of UEs, or a type of UE. 
     
     
       20. The one or more non-transitory computer readable storage media of  claim 15 , wherein the software is further operable to cause the processor to detect the configuration change to the wireless network system by obtaining a notification of the configuration change from a network management entity.